Container closing mechanism



Nov. 6, 1956 s. T. DAY 2,769,292

CONTAINER CLOSING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 EIEIIIDEI AI'E A? INVENTOR S/ewarf 7. Day

F /'g. 2 I W? Nov. 6, 1956 s. "r. DAY 2,769,292

CONTAINER CLOSING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 18,1954 I 2 sheets sheet 2 INVENTOR S fewarf 7. Day

ATTORNEYS United States Patent M CONTAINER CLOSING MECHANISM Stewart T.Day, Azle, Tex., assignor of fifty-one percent to William E. Shields, Jr., Azle, Tex.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in container closing mechanisms.

A principal object of the invention is to provide improved means of relatively simple, inexpensive construction for applying a closure to a container in sealed relation while the container is being conveyed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for applying a closure to a filledcontainer wherein the container is conveyed into engagement with the cap and'movedinto sealing relation thereto while said cap is confined against displacement whereby positive closing is assured without damaging said cap.

A- particular object of the invention is to provide an improved container closing mechanism, of the character described, wherein the closure is supported for engagement by the conveyed container and is carried by such engagement into sealed relation with said container, said closure being confined against upward movement while said container is lifted into positive and complete clos ing engagement therewith.

A further objectof the invention is to provide an improved container closing mechanism of the character described, which includes novel means for supporting and confining the closure against lateral and vertical dis: placement during application of said closure to the con-- tainer without interfering with the travel of said closure with said container.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved container closing mechanism, of the character described, which includes novel conveyor means of the endless type arranged to move and lift the container and being particularly adapted for use in applying a cap to a paper carton.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. l' is a perspective view of a container closing mechanism constructed in accordance with-the invention,

Fig. 2 is an end .elevational view of the mechanism,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, showinga cap. suspended for engagement by a container,

Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, showing the movement ofthecontainer into engagement with the cap, and

Fig. 5 is-a view, similar to Figs. 3 and 4, showing the container moving into sealing relation with the cap.

In the drawings, the numeral desig'natesthe base' of a container closing mechanism embodying the principles of the invention and shown in the form of'a flat, horizontal platform or table which may be-of any suitable dimensions. dinally .of the base for, advancingor moving containers A, shown in broken lines aspaper cartonshaving out-.

wardly and ,downwardly,flanged, marginal ,opperipheral vAn endless conveyor, 11 extends longitu tion for engagement by a conveyed container.

2,769,292 Patented Nov. 6, 1956 lips B at their upper ends, therealong and preferably includes a pair of transversely-spaced horizontally-alined endless chains 12 carried by sprockets 13 in the usual manner. Although subject to variation, the sprockets are shown fixed on a drive shaft 14 which is journaled in a suitable support 15 projecting from and mounted on the right-hand end of the base 10.

A plurality of semi-circular pusher bars or yoke members 16 extend transversely between the conveyor chains 12 at spaced intervals and are connected thereto by lugs 17 at their ends rigidly secured to the inner, opposed surfaces of the chains so as tonot interfere with the meshing of said chains with the sprockets 13. As will be apparent hereinafter, the radius of the pusher bars conforms substantially to the largest diameter of the containers A below their lips and the exact spacing between said bars is not shown. An elevated idler sprocket 18, mounted on the base by a suitable support 19, is provided for each chain to elevate or raise the pusher bars 16 into engagement with the container lips B for lifting the con tainers (Figs.. 2 and 3). Although not shown, conventional delivery or receiving means is arranged to receive the containers from the right-hand end of the base and its conveyor 11.

An' inclined chute-or cap feeding element 20, which may be in the form of a channel,- is suspended above the base and its conveyor to deliver and support a cap or other closure C having a marginal or peripheral flange for engagement by the containers A. As shown by the numeral 21, the lower ends of the flanges or sides of the channel-shaped chute project beyond the bottom or web portion of said chute and are secured to the longitudinally-projecting flanges or tracks 22 of a substantially horizontal track or guide member 23 which is preferably in the form of an inverted channel. An inverted, U- shaped guard or retaining member 24' overlies the lower end of the chute bottom in spaced relation and has its downwardly-directed:ends connected to the flanges 21. The guard is disposed at an angle to the chute bottom to permit counter-clockwise pivoting of a cap upon engagement by a container and may have its upper, longitudinal edge portion flared or relieved outwardly as shown by the numeral 25. Below and in substantially vertical alinement with the relieved edge portion 25, the chute bottom terminates in an arcuate edge portion 26 to facilitate the counter-clockwise pivoting of the cap and its engagement with a container. Of course, the curvature of the arcuate edge portion 26 conforms substantially to the curvature of the cap.

A pair of angular clips or lugs 27 are provided for sus-r pending the cap at the lower end of the chute 20 and may be mounted on the upper edge portion of the track 22 in contiguous relation to the chute flanges 21, preferably at the juncture of said flanges. The clips have inwardlydirected flanges or lateral portions 28 arranged in opposed relation for supporting a cap by its flange in posi- The contour, which is preferably bevelled, spacing and relationship of the clips 27 to each other and to the arcuate edge portion 26 is such that a cap is suspended at an inclination until its flange is engaged by the lip of a carton and said cap is readily released upon forward movement of the container and cap longitudinally of the base after such engagement.

. The track or guide member 23 includes a flat web portion 29 which functions as an abutment plate or confining means for preventing upward displacement of the cap during application or sealing of the container and cap. A pair of overlying hanger bars 30 are provided for suspending the guide member and are supported by upstanding posts or standards 31 carried by the base 10 externally of the conveyor chains 12. Although disposed in spaced, substantially parallel relationship, the guide member 23 is preferably inclined slightly relative to the base whereby its right-hand end is closer to said base than its left-hand end.

Each track 22 is provided with an inwardly-directed, substantially coextensive leg 32 at its lower margin to provide coacting tracks for supporting the caps during their forward longitudinal travel with the containers. The distance between the major portion of the tracks 22 and the base is greater than the height of the container, below its peripheral lip, whereby said container cannot rest on said base and is spaced therefrom when sealingly engaged with a cap supported by said tracks. If desired, the legs 32 may be spaced so as to support the containers by their peripheral lips B as well as the caps. it is noted that the web portion or abutment plate 29 is of less length than the tracks 22 and terminates in spaced relation to the chute 20, its flanges 21 and guard 24. As shown by the numeral 33, the left-hand end portion of the abutment plate is relieved or flared outwardly to accommodate forward movement of the cap with the container and counterclockwise pivoting of said cap. The tracks 22 preferably project to the left beyond the chute for guiding and directing the container into engagement with the cap.

In operation, the containers A are delivered at predetermined intervals to the conveyor 11 whereby each container is engaged by one of the pusher bars 16 for sliding movement or travel along the base 10 toward the chute 20. Since it forms no part of the present invention, the filling of the container is not illustrated. The caps C are suitably supplied to the chute and the lowermost cap is suspended in the path of the conveyed container as shown in Figs. 13. The forwardly moving container is directed into engagement with the suspended cap by the projecting ends of the tracks 22 and, if desired, may be lifted by the pusher bar from engagement with the base due to the elevation of the conveyor chains 12 by the idler sprockets 19 (Fig. 4). It is noted that the cap is suspended at its greatest width or diameter by the clips 27 after initial engagement by the lip B of the container and conjoint movement of said cap and container. The guard 24 coacts with the chute bottom to confine the upper portion of the cap, while the flared end portion 33 of the abutment plate 29 permits forward longitudinal travel of said cap and counterclockwise pivoting thereof about the axis provided by the clips.

Upon clearing the arcuate edge portion 26, the rear or .upper portion of the cap swings downwardly so as to rest upon and in canted or inclined relation to corresponding lip portion of the container. Due to the flared end portion 33, the cap is directed into engagement and parallel relation with the tracks 22 upon continued forward travel. Simultaneously, the container is lifted by the pusher bar 16 and maintained in an elevated or upper position for a suflicient period of time to assure sealing engagement with the cap (Fig. When the lips 32 of the track are spaced apart a distance less than the greatest width or diameter of the container, said container is supported by its peripheral lip and sealing engagement with the cap may be more positively assured. In any event, the abutment plate 29 prevents upward displacement of the cap to permit sealing engagement of the container therewith upon lifting of said container by the pusher bar 16 due to the elevation of the sprockets 19. After sealing engagement, the container is suspended from the track-supported cap during continued travel and until said container re-engages the base (Fig. 3). As has been explained, the conveyor 11 slides the container along the base and off the right-hand end thereof to conventional delivery or receiving means. Since the cap is confined against lateral or transverse displacement by the tracks 22 and against upward displacement by the abutment plate, positive and complete closing engagement of the container with the cap is obtained. Manifestly,

damaging of the cap is reduced to a minimum by lifting the filled container instead of forcing the cap downwardly onto said container.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A container closing mechanism including a cap feeding element having means for suspending a cap for engagement by and loose application to a container, an elongated stationary guide member adjacent the cap feeding element for receiving and supporting the loosely applied cap, means for advancing a container beneath said element and guide member whereby the cap is engaged by and loosely applied to the container and carried through the guide member, and means for lifting the container relative to the cap and guide member and moving the container upwardly without rotation into sealing engagement with the cap, said guide member confining the loosely applied cap against lateral and vertical displacement during advancement of the cap with the container.

2. A container closing mechanism including a cap feeding element having means for suspending a cap for engagement by and loose application to a container, stationary cap confining means adjacent the cap feeding element for receiving and supporting the loosely applied cap, an endless conveyor for supporting and advancing a container beneath said element and cap confining means whereby the cap is engaged by and loosely applied to the container and carried through said confining means, and means for elevating the conveyor to lift the container relative to the cap and confining means and move the container upwardly without rotation into sealing engagement with the cap.

3. A container closing mechanism including a cap feeding element having means for suspending a cap for engagement by and loose application to a container, stationary cap confining means adjacent the cap feeding element for receiving and supporting the loosely applied cap, means for advancing a container beneath said element and cap confining means whereby the cap is engaged by and loosely applied to [the container and carried through said confining means, .and means for lifting the container relative to the cap and confining means and moving the container upwardly without rotation into sealing engagement with the cap, the cap confining means including a track member having a substantially horizontal portion and angular depending portions for confining the cap against lateral and vertical displacement.

4. A container closing mechanism including a cap feeding element having means for suspending a cap for engagement by and loose application to a container, stationary cap confining means adjacent the cap feeding element for receiving and supporting the loosely applied cap, means for advancing a container beneath said element and cap confining means whereby the cap is engaged by and loosely applied to the container and carried through said confining means, and means for lifting the container relative to the cap and confining means and moving the container upwardly without rotation into sealing engagement with the cap, the container advancing means including an endless chain and a transverse member carried by the chain for supporting and moving the container, the container lifting means including -a sprocket for elevating the chain and member to lift the container.

5. A container closing mechanism including a cap feeding element having means for suspending a cap for engagement by and loose application to a container, a stationary guide member for receiving and supporting the loosely applied cap, means for advancing 'a container beneath the element and guide member, and means for lifting the advancing container into engagement with the suspended cap to [loosely apply the cap to the container whereby the loosely applied cap is carried through the guide member, the lifting means coacting with said guide member to sealingly engage the container with the cap said guide member confining the cap against displacement during advancement of the cap with the container.

6. A container closing mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein the guide member includes means adjacent and coacting with the suspending means of the cap feeding element for loosely applying a cap to a container and directing the cap into said guide member.

7. A container closing mechanism including a cap feeding element having means for suspending a cap for engagement by and loose application to a container, cap

confining means for receiving and supporting the loosely applied cap, an endless conveyor tor supporting and advancing a container beneath the element and cap confining means, and means for elevating the conveyor to lift the advancing container into engagement with the suspended cap to loosely apply the cap to the container whereby the loosely applied cap is carried through the cap con- :fining means, the conveyor elevating means coacting with said confining means to sealingly engage the container with the cap.

8. In a container closing mechanism, an endless conveyor supporting and moving a container having a cap loosely applied thereto, a stationary guide member receiving the loosely applied cap, the guide member including abutment means for confining the cap against upward displacement and track means 'for supporting the cap against lateral displacement, and means elevating the conveyor to lift the container in-to sealing engagement with the cap while the cap is confined against displacement.

9. In a container closing mechanism, an endless conveyor supporting and moving a container having a cap loosely applied thereto, track means supporting the loosely applied cap against lateral and vertical displacement, and means elevating the conveyor to lift the container into sealing engagement with the cap While the cap is confined against displacement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 958,252 Jenkins May 17, 1910 2,260,349 Stewart et all. Oct. 28, 1941 2,386,797 Hohl et a1 Oct. 16, 1945 2,522,437 Enkur Sept. 12, 1950 2,630,959 Brown Mar. 10, 1953 

